Printing plate base



H. w. HACKER PRINTING PLATE BASE Filed Dec. 28, 1954 Sheets-Sheet l H.w. HACKER PRINTING PLATE BASE Filed Dec. 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Mar. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING PLATE BASE.

Horace W. Hacker, La Grange, 111.

Application December 28, 1934, Serial No. 759,571

I 9 Claims. (01. 101-382) My invention relates tolumber from whichprinting plate bases are to be cut to desired sizes and has for itspurpose to so construct such lumber that bases cut therefrom will retaintheir original form and size under conditions incident to their use.

In the drawings chosen to illustrate my invention the scope whereof isset forth in the appended claims:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a printing plate base cutfrom lumber constructed in accordance with my invention; and

Figures 2, 3 and 4 are similar views of alternative forms of myinvention.

Referring to; Figure 1 my improved lumber is shown as having its top andbottom formed of sheets of nail penetrable and planeable material, inthis instance sheets of cast metal III and II. In casting these sheets Iprovide their inner faces with cross tongues I2, although any othersuitable type of formations may be provided on the inner faces of thesheets. Between these sheets I provide a plurality of wood blocks I3having their cross grain ends disposed in parallel planes with the endscommon to one of the planes covered by the sheet II] and the ends commonto the other plane covered by the sheet II. The cross grain ends of eachof the blocks I3 are provided with cross grooves I4 which receive thecross tongues I2 of the sheets II) and II. The position of the crosstongues I2 and cross grooves I I is such that, when the lumber isassembled as shown in Figure 1, they serve to both interconnect theblocks I3 and also position them with their opposed faces spaced apartto avoid the possibility of any undesirable cumulative effect on thestability of the lumber due to side swelling of the blocks. Inassembling the lumber the sheets l and II and the cross grain ends ofthe blocks I3 are of course cemented together.

In the form of my invention shown in Figure 2 the inner faces of thesheets I0 and II are provided with cross knurling which producessomewhat pointed formations I5. In assembling this structure the partsare positioned in proper relation with cement applied between the blocksand sheets and then pressed together to force the formations I5 into thecross grain ends of the blocks I3 as clearly shown in the drawings.

The structures shown in Figures 1 and 2 are characterized by therigidity and strength essential to properly sustain the pressureincident to locking up a printing form in which either is embodied andalso render possible the practical use of wood with upright grain bypreventing splitting of the wood blocks when nailed near an edge orcorner due to the holding influence of the sheet III or sheet II,according to which sheet is penetrated in nailing. The structure shownin Figure 2' is also characterized by economy in production. ,7

In the form of my invention shown inFigure 3 the construction andarrangement and relation of the blocks I3 is the same as that describedin connection with Figures 1 and 2, but the sheets l0 and II aredispensed with and open grids I6 and II are engaged and cemented in thegrooves I4.

The form of my invention shown in Figure 4 is similar in all respects tothat shown in Figure 3, but embodies in addition sheets of nailpenetrable and planeable material I8 and I9 cemented to opposite crossgrain ends of the blocks l3 respectively and to related open grids I6and II. In this instance the sheets I8 and I9 are shown as constitutedof wood veneer, but said sheets may be made from any other suitablematerial. In this form of my invention planing for heighth can beaccomplished with greater facility than in the form shown in Figure 3.

In all the forms illustrated and described distinct advantage is gainedwith respect to stability of heighth of the base as wood changes itsdimensions very slightly in the direction of the grain, while thespacing apart of opposed faces of the blocks serves to eliminate anycumulative effect on stability of form due to side swelling of theblocks.

While I have shown the blocks I3 in all the forms arranged with theirgrain upright it will be understood that other arrangements of theblocks can be resorted to without departing from the spirit of myinvention or the scope of the 40 appended claims.

I claim:

I. Lumber from which printing plate bases are to be cut comprisingsheets of nail penetrable and planeable material constituting the topand bottom of the lumber, a plurality of wood blocks between the sheetssaid blocks having their opposed faces in spaced relation, andformations on at least one of the sheets engaged in the blocks.

2. Lumber from which printing plate bases are to be cut comprising aplurality of wood blocks positioned with opposite ends disposed inparallel planes respectively and with spaces between their adjacentopposed faces, and separate block interconnecting means, one of which isengaged in the ends of the blocks common to one plane and the other ofwhich is engaged in the ends of the blocks common to the other plane,both of said means being located entirely outside the spaces betweenadjacent opposed faces of the blocks.

3. Lumber from which printing plate bases are to be out comprising aplurality of wood blocks positioned with opposite ends disposed inparallel planes respectively and with spaces between their adjacentopposed faces, and block interconnecting means engaged in the ends ofthe blocks common to one of said planes, said means being locatedentirely outside the spaces between adjacent opposed faces of theblocks.

4. Lumber from which printing plate bases are to be cut comprisingsheets of nailpenetrable and planeable material constituting the top andbottom of the lumber, a plurality of wood blocks between the sheetsrelatively positioned to provide spaces between their adjacent opposedfaces, and formations on at least one of the sheets engaged in theblocks and disposed entirely outside said spaces.

5. Lumber from which printing plate bases are to be cut comprisingsheets of nail penetrable and planeable material constituting the topand bottom of the lumber, a plurality of wood blocks between the sheetsrelatively positioned to provide spaces between their adjacent opposedfaces and each of said blocks having its cross grain ends abutting thesheets respectively, and formations on at least one of the sheetsengaged in the blocks and disposed entirely outside said spaces.

6. Lumber from which printing plate bases are to be cut comprising aplurality of wood blocks positioned with opposite ends disposed inparallel planes respectively and with spaces between their adjacentopposed faces, and open grids, one of which is engaged in recesses inthe ends of the blocks common to one of the planes and the other of saidgrids being engaged in recesses in the ends of the blocks common to theother plane, both of said grids being located entirely outside thespaces between adjacent opposed faces of the blocks.

7. Lumber from which printing plate bases are to be cut comprising aplurality of wood blocks positioned with opposite ends disposed inparallel planes respectively and with spaces between their adjacentopposed faces, an open grid engaged in recesses in the ends of theblocks common to one of the planes with said grid disposed entirelyoutside the spaces between adjacent opposed faces of the blocks, andsheets of nail penetrable and planeable material, one of which issecured to and covers the ends of the blocks common to one plane and theother of which is secured to and covers the ends of the blocks common tothe other plane.

8. Lumber from which printing plate bases are to be cut comprising aplurality of wood blocks positioned with opposite ends disposed inparallel planes respectively and with spaces between their adjacentopposed faces, open grids respectively engaged in recesses in the endsof the blocks common to said planes with said grids disposed entirelyoutside the spaces between adjacent opposed faces of the blocks, andsheets of nail penetrable and planeable material, one of which issecured to the ends of theblocks common to one plane and the other ofwhich is secured to and covers the ends of the blocks common to theother plane.

9. Lumber from which printing plates are to be cut comprising aplurality of wood blocks positioned with opposite ends disposed inparal-' lel planes respectively and with each pair of their adjacentfaces having an uninterrupted free space therebetween throughout theirentire areas, and sheets of nail penetrable material, one

of which is secured to and covers the ends of the blocks common to oneplane and the other of which is secured to and covers the ends of theblocks common to the other plane.

HORACE W. HACKER.

